{"id":426,"date":"2020-11-05T15:12:42","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T13:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zerowastethings.com\/?p=426"},"modified":"2021-04-21T14:57:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T12:57:03","slug":"zero-waste-stain-remover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zerowastethings.com\/zero-waste-stain-remover\/","title":{"rendered":"The best zero waste stain remover + some stain science"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I used to not bother with special stain removals. I wanted my laundry routine to be fuss-free and easy… but then…When I started buying nicer things, I really loved…I wanted to learn how to take care of them better. With better proper care, my things last longer, look like new for longer, and I stopped contributing to piles of waste at the landfill or more material for incinerators…
There are several zero waste stain remover options, all quite natural and reasonably available. What I can say for sure, commercial organic stain removers will be gentler, so not as efficient at bad stains. I tried several and thought they were a waste of money. It’s hard to get a balance between gentle, not harmful to the environment, and really efficient right.<\/strong>
That is why I looked into stain removal more, to find better techniques and prep work on how to clean stains, no matter what soap or stain remover you are using. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Side note: Did you know laundry cleaner manufacturers aren’t required to disclose ingredients used in laundry detergents and stain removers? So they do not. Some still use microplastic and ingredients harmful to the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Zero waste plastic free laundry routine from start to finish<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

General tips before you apply a stain remover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I think you already knew this, but for people at the back, the sooner you can soak or wash off a stain, the better. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is also good to know about natural stain removals is that there are 2 kinds of stain removal, actual stain removal vs. bleaching the stain so it becomes less visible. I describe this in more detail in my post on why I stopped making my own laundry detergent.<\/a>
Most often, stain removals will do a bit of both. I find it often doesn’t matter which one it is really, though it is a bit gross to think sth. is still dirty, just not visible… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For best success, you need to know what we are dealing with. There are several types of stains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. PROTEIN BASED: blood, milk, ice-cream, various body fluids…<\/li>
  2. OIL BASED: oil, cosmetics, makeup…<\/li>
  3. TANIN BASED: tea, coffee, coke, berries …<\/li>
  4. DYE BASED: ink, colorants in food and drinks<\/li>
  5. COMBO: mayo (protein+oil), ketchup, most finished dishes, most processed food…<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Each category has its own stain remover and you can treat some in the same way. The most important thing to remember is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Never rinse\/wash in hot water on blood (protein-based stains).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Never use a stain remover with soap on coffee or tea stains, use pure detergent only.<\/strong> By soap, I mean hand soap, body soap, laundry soap, laundry detergent with Marseilles soap…<\/p>\n\n\n\n